New #Gamecocks RB coach Marquel Blackwell is stepping into a loaded room in Columbia

USC football coach Shane Beamer saw the production from his running backs decrease in each of his three seasons and he decided to make changes. Monterio Hardesty was fired as the running backs coach in early January, and Beamer attacked the Transfer Portal for talent signing three running backs to go along with his one high school signee. 

Add returnees Juju McDowell and Dontavious Braswell to the mix, and the Gamecocks’ running back room will sport six quality contenders for carries. To manage all of that, Beamer last week hired Marquel Blackwell as his new running backs coach. 

USC will be the fourth stop in as many seasons for Blackwell who spent a season at Texas A&M preceded by a season at Ole Miss and two years at Houston. Last Friday, Blackwell met with the media to talk about the move to Columbia and the situation he has inherited.

Marquel Blackwell introductory press conference